Xinxing, China

With a population of just 97,483, this remote county-level city in China's Xinjiang region is unlikely to meet the expectations of most foreigners seeking an easy life abroad. Xinxing is the headquarters of the 13th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a paramilitary organization that integrates management between the city and the division. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the lengthy approval process for Xinxing's establishment in 2021. Overall, Xinxing is best suited for those seeking a highly regimented lifestyle in an isolated, sparsely populated corner of western China.